Hiking, mountain-bike, riding

Sant Aniol d’Aguja

Sant Aniol d'Aguja is one of the most emblematic place of the Alta Garrotxa, a breathtaking landscape of limestone shaped by water, small pools filled with clear water. The name "Aguja" comes from Latin aquagium, which means channel or narrow passage of water between cliffs.

The tour begins in Sadernes and allows us to visit the hermitage of Sant Aniol, which is originally from the eleventh century, although it was founded in the ninth century by monks fleeing the persecution of the Normans, with subsequent amendments.

We’ll see the impressive “Salt de la nuvia” and arrive at Sant Aniol. Following the river we'll reach the spectacular waterfall of "Salt del Brull”, one of the attractions of the route, a curious 25m high waterfall, a meeting point for many canyoning enthusiasts. The picture on the right shows this wonderful waterfall.

Toralles – Vall del Bac

Toralles is a village in the municipality of Montagut i Oix, located on the south side of Montpetit. The place is already mentioned in 977, and from the eleventh century it is Toralles Castle, currently nonexistent, but which is identified with the ruins of the mountain Montpetit. Some historians believe that these ruins belong only to a sentry tower. In Toralles is the Sant Martí Church, Romanesque, quoted in the year 1209 (Besalú Scrolls). The temple is dated twelfth century.

Around the year 1300, Toralles had 36 mattres, but various calamities and the Black Death reduced the population drastically over the next years.

La Vall del Bac has always been the natural way between the towns of Olot and Camprodón, before the construction of the road. It is an abrupt place of great beauty where predominates oaks, pines and beech forests.

Santa Bàrbara de Pruneres and Mare de Deu d’Escales

Santa Bárbara de Pruneres, Romanesque church dating from the twelfth century or early thirteenth century. In the seventeenth or eighteenth century the stone cover which forms the original building was dismantled and placed it on a more robust, which could be useful to soften the harsh inclement weather, or provide a defensive enclosure at the time when there were riots social. This small church has an exceptional view of the Valley of Oix and the many peaks that surround it, as well as the spectacular crest of Ferran. It seems the perfect place to illustrate the legend of Santa Bárbara, tortured and beheaded by her father for his Christian fervor. As the cruel parent divine punishment was struck by lightning and therefore relates to this holy rays, lightning and storms.

The route starts at the same Oix, where we ascend to Santa Barbara de Prunera, visit the chapel and enjoy the wonderful views of the place. Then descends to the hermitage of Mare de Déu d'Escales and continues to the top of Ferran, descending the other side until Talaixà. We return to Oix by the "Vall d'Hortmoier”, visiting King's ancient oaks that are halfway.

In the picture you can see the church of Santa Bàrbara de Pruneres, where you can enjoy incredible views, as Bassegoda mountains, the Pic de les Bruixes and valleys Fluvià and Llierca. The shrine, which dates from the twelfth century, is a Romanesque building located at 719m of altitude over the mountains of Santa Bàrbara in Prunera’s neighborhood.

Pic de les Bruixes - Comanegra

The Comanegra (1557m) and Pic de les Bruixes or Caburlé (1393m) are border peaks. The Comanegra is bordering with France while the Pic de les Bruixes, thus known because it was said that witches danced there the nights of San Juan (summer solstice), separates Alta Garrotxa and Alt Empordà. Although they aren’t the highest peaks of the area, present some of the best views in the area.

The tour is a circular route that begins on a raft, the Bassa de Monars, and up to the Pic de les Bruixes through oak forests. Then, retracing a hull, pass through mountain meadows and beech forests to reach the peak of Comanegra.

In the picture on the right you can see the cross of the Comanegra, and the Canigó in the background.

Volcanic Area of the Garrotxa

The Garrotxa Volcanic Area is a prime example of volcanic landscape of the Iberian Peninsula and one of the largest in Europe. In 1982 he was declared a Natural Site of National Interest with areas of Interest Geobotanical Integral Reserves. The park covers some 12,000 hectares, within which have been recorded thirty-eight volcanic cones, the area is mid-mountain, and extends from the 200m height of the Castellfollit de la Roca until the Puigsallança 1100m, the highest point of the mountain range of Finestres.

In the Natural Park of the Garrotxa Volcanic Area Cooperative we’ll visit the Cooperativa de la Fageda. This lactic plant is a Catalan initiative social non-profit cooperative that aims to socio-occupational integration of people of the region of La Garrotxa suffering a mental disability. The visit lasts approximately 1h. Then begin a tour of the volcanic area that will allow us to visit the Fageda de’n Jordà, a beautiful beech forest, the Santa Margarida Volcano and Croscat Volcano, which has many different layers of lava that are easily visible in one of its slopes.

In the picture you can see and air view of the volcano of Santa Margarita, one of the most important of the sector, 682m high and a crater perimeter of 2000m. In the center of the crater one finds the church of Santa Margarita, of Romanesque origin. Its last eruption dates back 11.000 years.

Beget

Beget, a town located 541m above sea level and whose houses are staggered over the river, which is crossed by two old, but well-preserved bridges. The municipality of Beget is chaired by the Romanesque church of Sant Cristòfol of Beget, XII century, one of the most beautiful Romanesque examples in the area and beautifully restored. Inside is the famous majesty of Beget, the image of Santo Cristo (Divine Majesty), a wood sculpture of the twelfth century, with robe to toe and crown, which presides over the altar, and the protagonist of a curious legend. It’s also interesting a Romanesque baptismal pike, a Gothic alabaster altarpiece representing various scenes from the Christmas cycle and the life of the Virgin, and the Gothic image of the Mare de Déu de la Salut, XIV century, and a set of Baroque altarpieces. This church is listed as a national monument. The temple is a Roman exemplar of the second half of the twelfth century. Correct and tight lines, has a richly ornamented own of mature Romanesque. Built around a Benedictine monastery disappeared, the church is their only reference.

The excursion begins in Oix towards Hortmoier valley where we link with the GR11. In this point we'll visit "Els roures del Rei" (The king's oak trees), a thousands-years-old trees with an impressive dimension. We'll follow the GR11 until getting Beget.

Castellfollit de la Roca and Sant Joan les Fonts

Castellfollit de la Roca, a town bounded by the confluence of the rivers Fluvià and Toronell, amid which stands the spectacular basalt wall on which is the village. It’s a basalt wall of 50m height and almost a mile long, and is the direct result of the erosive actions of the two rivers on the remains of lava from volcanic eruptions that occurred thousands of years ago. When the lava solidifies resulting basalt, rock of great hardness, and it takes different forms depending on the cooling process, contraction and cracking of the lava.

This tour will also visit the monastery of Sant Joan les Fonts and take a walk along the “Ruta de las tres coladas de lava” (path of the three lava flows), route that passes through an interesting area of basalt cliffs.

Bassegoda

The peak most emblematic of the Alta Garrotxa. Not being the highest peak (1373m) has an excellent view, and it allows approached by different valleys. In addition, the accumulated slope and the final climb, give an added attraction. In autumn, the leaves of the chestnut, beech and oak are typical colors of the date, and the peaks that can be seen from above are usually capped with the first snow of the season.

In the picture you can see the impressive views from the Bassegoda peak.

Green way

In the city of Olot begins a “Via Verde” (green way), a former railway line restored and specially designed for bicycle traffic. It is known as "Carrilet" and reaches the coast.

We will see the charm of this road as we rolled in small towns visiting the old stations, across the old train tunnels and across spectacular bridges over lush valleys.